As the country celebrates 100 years of cinema we want to bring to your notice how New Wave Indie Cinema of India is under threat. Among the various challenges that we face as Indie film makers, the biggest is that of exhibition. The multiplexes which were given tax benefits to promote small budget content film have in fact been instrumental in destroying small cinema by only playing the box office game.

High ticket pricing that is inappropriate for small budget films, inadequate number of shows and odd show timings further destroy the possibility of Indie cinema (regional and Hindi) to have any proper chance at being viewed. It defies logic that a 150 Crores film and a 1.5 crore film are priced by the multiplexes in the same manner.

Given the current scenario we feel that that National Television channel Doordarshan can play a vital role (like it did once upon a time when it aired good Indian and world cinema every Sunday) in supporting and nurturing meaningful Cinema

While applauding the fact that the Ministry is spending 300 crores to revive our archival films we want to bring to your notice that urgent attention also needs to be given to support meaningful Indie cinema. Otherwise we will be celebrating the past glory while letting the present new wave Indian cinema die.

We have some suggestions and observations:

1.Why are films being discriminated as opposed to TV programs? TV content is not censored and has much wider viewer-ship and is exposed to the viewers indiscriminately. Why is it that serials/reality shows get away with so much regressive content while films face so much censorship when it comes to TV? Once a film is cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification it should be allowed to be screened on TV according to appropriate time slot without any further censorship.

b. 11pm slot for A rated films on DD and Satellite. It would be a shame if some of the gems of Indian cinema cannot be seen on DD because of this policy.

The need for our own screening space.

6.In a year where 300 crores is being spent on reviving archival material even if one third the amount was spent in building spaces - as in low cost exhibition space across the country - which will screen Indie films irrespective of language at lower ticket price it would change the course of cinema in India. There are also many cities whch have existing structures that are under utilised or unused and can be renovated. With 100 crores accocated for this purpose we would soon have a significant no of screens across the country.... and then we would truly be celebrating the cinemas of India.

7.In France the Government has a policy where its mandatory for every multiplex to reserve all shows in one screen irrespective of collections for indie cinema. Multiplexes when they were created were given 5 years of tax benefit. It should be made mandatory for them to block one screen for indie cinema from across the country.

8.This would also mean that a body needs to be created to identify which films qualify for being screened at these places. We would suggest that under the heading of NFDC centers be made in different parts of India like Mumbai, Kolkata,Chennai, Delhi, Trivandrum and Guwahati where a group of 5 film makers vote for films that can qualify.

9.Once a regional film has been selected by the board it should automatically given tax excemption when released in other states so as to promote within the country exchange of films.

10.Once a fllm is awarded the National Award it automatically falls under tax excemption. However most of the films awarded are films that are released. To make this gift to the film maker of real significance we would request the government to refund the tax earned from these films.

GOALS ACHIEVED

1. a) 10 pm slots for U/A rated feature films on DD slot "The Best of indian cinema". All National award winning film from year 2000 qualify for the slot. Also film that have been selected in 16 listed film festivals qualify for this slot

WHAT NEEDS TO BE ACHIEVED WITH DOORDARSHAN

1. A similar slot for all national award winning non fiction films. There is no reason why they should be discriminated. there should be a similar automatic qualification process for Non - fiction films.

2. All National Award wining films get eligible for all the categories of telecast and also available in other regional language space. This way DD telecasts become a significant component of the recovery system. Winning the National Award should also transform into monetary benefit so that we can make more films in that space.

3. DD should have a cell that will follow up and source National Award winning films and others that fit into "The Best of Indian Cinemaa Category" without the film makers having to go through complicated application procedure. its should be eligible automatically and no additional application fees demanded

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As the country celebrates 100 years of cinema we want to bring to your notice how New Wave Indie Cinema of India is under threat. Among the various challenges that we face as Indie film makers, the biggest is that of exhibition. The multiplexes which were given tax benefits to promote small budget content film have in fact been instrumental in destroying small cinema by only playing the box office game. High ticket pricing that is inappropriate for small budget films, inadequate number of shows and odd show timings further destroy the possibility of Indie cinema (regional and Hindi) to have any proper chance at being viewed. It defies logic that a 150 Crores film and a 1.5 crore film are priced by the multiplexes in the same manner. Given the current scenario we feel that that National Television channel Doordarshan can play a vital role (like it did once upon a time when it aired good Indian and world cinema every Sunday) in supporting and nurturing meaningful CinemaWhile applauding the fact that the Ministry is spending 300 crores to revive our archival films we want to bring to your notice that urgent attention also needs to be given to support meaningful Indie cinema. Otherwise we will be celebrating the past glory while letting the present new wave Indian cinema die. We have some suggestions and observations:1. Why are films being discriminated as opposed to TV programmes? TV content is not censored and has much wider viewer-ship and is exposed to the viewers indiscriminately. Why is it that serials/reality shows get away with so much regressive content while films face so much censorship when it comes to TV? Once a film is cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification it should be allowed to be screened on TV according to appropriate time slot without any further censorship.a. 9 pm slots for U/A rated films on DD and Satellite. b. 11pm slot for A rated films on DD and Satellite. It would be a shame if some of the gems of Indian cinema cannot be seen on DD because of this policy. How could Doordarshan play a constructive role in supporting indie cnema2. All National Awards film irrespective of language should atleast be given at least one prime time screening slot. It would be a shame that these films, which have received Government recognisition are relegated to time slots that are considered ‘ The Graveyard Slot”. Once again like multiplexes here too BLOCK BUSTER films, irrespective of the fact that they very often contain regressive content, are given the prime time slot. 3. Showing National award winning films during prime time will truly serve the purpose of the word “NATIONAL” and promote awareness and understanding within the country of our plurality and diverse culture. Today cinema can serve as a link between various languages and cultures within our country. While we talk about crossing over to the outside word its more important that we cross over within our state boundaries. And DD can play a pivotal role in this. 4. All National Award wining films get eligible for all the categories, and hence DD telecasts become a significant component of the recovery system. Winning the National Award should also transform into monetary benefit so that we can make more films in that space.5. NFDC used as body to identify other indie cinema from across the country which should be given a platform on DD and provided at least one prime time screening slot. The need for our own screening space.6. In a year where 300 crores is being spent on reviving archival material even if one third the amount was spent in building spaces - as in low cost exhibition space across the country - which will screen Indie films irrespective of language at lower ticket price it would change the course of cinema in India. There are also many cities whch have existing structures that are under utilised or unused and can be renovated. With 100 crores accocated for this purpose we would soon have a significant no of screens across the country.... and then we would truly be celebrating the cinemas of India.7. In France the Government has a policy where its mandatory for every multiplex to reserve all shows in one screen irrespective of collections for indie cinema. Multiplexes when they were created were given 5 years of tax benefit. It should be made mandatory for them to block one screen for indie cinema from across the country.8. This would also mean that a body needs to be created to identify which films qualify for being screened at these places. We would suggest that under the heading of NFDC centers be made in different parts of India like Mumbai, Kolkata,Chennai, Delhi, Trivandrum and Guwahati where a group of 5 film makers vote for films that can qualify. 9. Once a regional film has been selected by the board it should automatically given tax excemption when released in other states so as to promote within the country exchange of films. 10. Once a fllm is awarded the National Award it automatically falls under tax excemption. However most of the films awarded are films that are released. To make this gift to the film maker of real significance we would request the government to refund the tax earned from these films.